Seven engineers, including two chief engineers, have been suspended by the Madhya Pradesh government following widespread criticism over a newly constructed Rail Over Bridge (ROB) in Bhopal, India, that features a dangerously sharp 90-degree turn. The controversial design has left drivers and the public alarmed, questioning how to safely navigate the abrupt bend.
The project, announced a decade ago and costing approximately 200 million rupees (S$2.7 million), aimed to enhance connectivity between the Mahamai Ka Bagh, Pushpa Nagar, and the New Bhopal railway station area. However, the unusually sharp curve in the bridge’s design has overshadowed its intended benefits, raising serious safety concerns.
Officials Respond: Suspensions, Blacklisting and Calls for Redesign
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav addressed the issue publicly via social media, confirming he had ordered an official inquiry into the “serious negligence” involved in the bridge’s construction. Following the inquiry, immediate suspensions were issued for seven Public Works Department engineers, with a departmental investigation also initiated against a retired superintendent engineer implicated in the flawed design.
The design consultancy and architectural firms responsible have been blacklisted by authorities. A committee has been established to explore feasible solutions to rectify the bridge’s technical faults, with the Chief Minister emphasising that the bridge will only be inaugurated once these issues are fully resolved.
Limited Space Cited, Plans for Reconstruction Underway
According to reports, chief engineer VD Verma defended the 90-degree turn, explaining that limited land availability and the proximity of a metro station left no alternative but to incorporate the sharp bend. Nonetheless, local authorities are exploring options to acquire additional land to facilitate a safer, more gradual curve for the bridge.
CNBC TV18 reports that once sufficient land is obtained, the bridge will be reconstructed to meet proper safety standards. The current situation serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of thorough planning and safety considerations in public infrastructure projects.